KrisTv has published a feature story on Vicki Barrilleaux, a colon cancer survivor, who has started a colon cancer awareness and screening group in Corpus Christi Texas, and who claims Katie Couric saved her life. "Everything I knew prior to my diagnosis was what I had heard from her because of her husband," Barrilleaux said. "I was lucky, I did have some symptoms. Usually, the number one symptom of colon cancer is no symptoms, but I did have some bleeding. I was more aware because I had listened to her. It can be embarrassing, and I don't know if it's something I would have talked to my doctor about if I hadn't had that concern."
Two years after Barrilleaux's colon cancer diagnosis, her sister was diagnosed with colon cancer and died with seventy-five days. For Barrilleaux it is a personal mission to talk about colon cancer publicly and often. In Dallas, Texas, she finally got a chance to meet Couric in person and thank her for saving her life by talking openly about her husband Jay Monahan's colon cancer death.
While colon cancer usually does not become obvious until in the advanced stages, and has no symptoms, if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should see a doctor:
- Diarrhea, constipation, or other change in bowel habits that does not resolve
- Blood in the stool
- Unexplained anemia
- Abdominal pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen
- Intestinal obstruction
- Weight loss with no known reason
- Stools narrower than usual
To diagnose colon cancer in its earliest stages, when it is most treatable, a colonoscopy is recommended. Normally, these are recommended for everyone aged 50 and over, however, if you are at higher risk, colonoscopies are recommended at age 40 or younger. Barrilleaux's sons, both in their mid-30s, have agreed to be screened. To read the rest of Barrilleaux's story, and her efforts to save lives, go here.
